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Abstract:

The tactile sensation providing device according to the present invention
includes a touch sensor (120) that detects contact, a tactile sensation
providing unit (130) that provides a tactile sensation to a contacting
object in contact with the touch sensor (120), and a control unit (110)
that controls the tactile sensation providing unit (130), when the touch
sensor (120) detects a slide operation by the contacting object, to
provide the tactile sensation continuously while varying the tactile
sensation provided to the contacting object during the slide operation in
accordance with a position of the contacting object during the slide
operation, whereby can provide the user's finger, when detecting a slide
operation by a user, with a tactile sensation that varies during the
slide operation in accordance with the position of the user's finger
during the slide operation.

Claims:

1. A tactile sensation providing device comprising: a touch sensor
configured to detect contact; a tactile sensation providing unit
configured to provide a tactile sensation to a contacting object in
contact with the touch sensor; and a control unit configured to control
the tactile sensation providing unit, when the touch sensor detects a
slide operation by the contacting object, to provide the tactile
sensation continuously while varying the tactile sensation provided to
the contacting object during the slide operation in accordance with a
position of the contacting object during the slide operation.

2. The tactile sensation providing device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a display unit overlaid on the touch sensor and configured to
display a map; and a memory unit configured to store map data including
characteristic information for each location on the map, wherein the
control unit controls the tactile sensation providing unit, when the
touch sensor detects a slide operation by the contacting object, to vary
the tactile sensation provided to the contacting object during the slide
operation in accordance with the characteristic information for the
location on the map corresponding to the position of the contacting
object during the slide operation.

4. The tactile sensation providing device according to claim 3, wherein
the control unit searches for a route from a point of departure to a
destination and controls the display unit to display the route on the map
being displayed, and when the touch sensor detects an operation to search
again by the contacting object in a predetermined region including a
position on the route, the control unit searches again for another route
including a region with a smaller elevation difference than an elevation
difference in the predetermined region.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese
Patent Application No. 2011-15708 filed Jan. 27, 2011, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a device which detects an
operation to slide a finger on a touch panel.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In recent years, a variety of user interfaces incorporating a touch
panel have been provided. A combination of a touch sensor, which detects
an input operation by a user, and a display device, such as a liquid
crystal panel, is normally used in a touch panel.

[0004] When the user contacts or applies pressure to an icon or other such
object displayed on the touch panel, using a finger or a pen referred to
as a stylus, the touch panel outputs position information, which
corresponds to the position on the screen of the display device, as an
electrical signal. A touch panel type mobile terminal or the like
executes a predetermined operation, such as launching an application, in
response to the received information regarding the position on the
screen.

[0005] In this way, by using an interface that uses a touch panel, the
user can intuitively perform operations.

[0006] Among interfaces that use a touch panel, some interfaces detect an
operation to trace a finger along the touch panel (referred to
hereinafter as a slide operation). For example, Patent Literature 1
relates to a navigation device and allows for correction of map data when
a slide operation from an original route towards a corrected route is
executed on a road map displayed on the screen.

CITATION LIST

[0007] Patent Literature 1: JP2007205889A

SUMMARY

[0008] According to the invention disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a
touch panel detects a slide operation, and in accordance with the
position of the detected slide operation, the navigation device can
execute data correction of map data and the like.

[0009] There is demand, however, for an even more intuitive user interface
using a touch panel, and also for a more intuitive user interface
regarding a slide operation.

[0010] The present invention has been conceived in light of these
considerations, and is to provide a tactile sensation providing device
that, when detecting a slide operation by a user, can provide the user's
finger with a tactile sensation that varies during the slide operation in
accordance with the position of the user's finger during the slide
operation.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a tactile sensation providing
device according to the present invention includes: a touch sensor
configured to detect contact; a tactile sensation providing unit
configured to provide a tactile sensation to a contacting object in
contact with the touch sensor; and a control unit configured to control
the tactile sensation providing unit, when the touch sensor detects a
slide operation by the contacting object, to provide the tactile
sensation continuously while varying the tactile sensation provided to
the contacting object during the slide operation in accordance with a
position of the contacting object during the slide operation.

[0012] The tactile sensation providing device preferably further includes:
a display unit overlaid on the touch sensor and configured to display a
map; and a memory unit configured to store map data including
characteristic information for each location on the map, such that the
control unit controls the tactile sensation providing unit, when the
touch sensor detects a slide operation by the contacting object, to vary
the tactile sensation provided to the contacting object during the slide
operation in accordance with the characteristic information for the
location on the map corresponding to the position of the contacting
object during the slide operation.

[0014] The control unit preferably searches for a route from a point of
departure to a destination and controls the display unit to display the
route on the map being displayed, and when the touch sensor detects an
operation to search again by the contacting object in a predetermined
region including a position on the route, the control unit preferably
searches again for another route including a region with a smaller
elevation difference than an elevation difference in the predetermined
region.

[0015] While aspects of the present invention have been described above in
terms of devices, the present invention may also be achieved by a method
or a program substantially equivalent to the above devices, or by a
storage medium having such a program recorded thereon. These aspects are
also to be understood as included in the scope of the present invention.

[0016] According to the present invention, when a slide operation by a
user is detected, the user's finger can be provided with a tactile
sensation that varies during the slide operation in accordance with the
position of the user's finger during the slide operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating the
configuration of a tactile sensation providing device according to an
embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the tactile
sensation providing device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;

[0020] FIGS. 3A-3F illustrate provision of elevation information via a
tactile sensation according to another embodiment of the present
invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations to provide a tactile
sensation in accordance with elevation information by the tactile
sensation providing device according to another embodiment of the present
invention;

[0022] FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate operations, by a tactile sensation providing
device according to a modification of the present invention, to search
again for a route; and

[0023] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations, by the tactile
sensation providing device according to the modification of the present
invention, to search again for a route.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The embodiments discussed herein relate to a device which receives
for providing a tactile sensation in accordance with contact, and in
particular to a device for providing a tactile sensation that varies in
accordance with position during an operation to slide a finger on a touch
panel.

[0025] The following describes embodiments of a tactile sensation
providing device according to the present invention in detail with
reference to the drawings.

[0027] The control unit 110 controls and manages the entire tactile
sensation providing device 100, starting with the functional units
thereof, and is configured using a suitable processor, such as a CPU or
the like.

[0028] The touch sensor 120 detects contact by a finger, stylus pen, or
the like on a touch face 120A thereof and is configured using a
well-known resistive film type, capacitive type, optical type, or other
type of transparent touch sensor that outputs two-dimensional position
information on a touch position. The touch sensor 120 is provided on the
front face of the display unit 150. The position information from this
touch sensor 120 is provided to the control unit 110. The object
contacting the touch face 120A, such as the user's finger, a stylus, or
the like, is hereinafter referred to as a "contacting object". The user's
finger is described below as an example of the contacting object, but
this is merely an example; the contacting object is not limited to the
user's finger. Note that in order for the touch sensor 120 to detect
input, it is not essential for the user's finger or the like to
physically press the touch sensor 120. For example, if the touch sensor
120 is an optical type, the touch sensor 120 detects the position at
which an infrared ray is blocked by a finger or the like and can
therefore detect input even in the absence of a physical press.

[0029] The tactile sensation providing unit 130 transmits a vibration to
the touch face 120A of the touch sensor 120 and is, for example,
configured using a piezoelectric element, an ultrasonic transducer, or
the like. By vibrating, the tactile sensation providing unit 130 can
provide a tactile sensation to a user's finger or the like pressing on
the touch sensor 120. Furthermore, the tactile sensation providing unit
130 can be configured to vibrate the touch face 120A of the touch sensor
120 indirectly via a vibration motor (eccentric motor).

[0030] Upon the control unit 110 changing the driving voltage applied to a
piezoelectric element, the tactile sensation providing unit 130 provides
a different tactile sensation to the user's finger. The control unit 110
can change the frequency, amplitude, waveform, or the like of the driving
voltage. The magnitude of the frequency and the amplitude can be changed,
and the waveform can be made a sine wave, a rectangular wave, a
triangular wave, or the like.

[0031] The pressure detection unit 140 detects pressure on the touch face
120A of the touch sensor 120 and is, for example, configured using a
strain gauge sensor, a piezoelectric element, or the like that
experiences a change in physical or electrical characteristics (strain,
resistance, voltage, or the like) in response to pressure. When the
pressure detection unit 140 is configured using a piezoelectric element,
for example, the magnitude of the voltage (voltage value), which is an
electrical characteristic, of the piezoelectric element changes in
accordance with the magnitude of the load (force) of the pressure on the
touch face 120A of the touch sensor 120 (or the speed at which the
magnitude of the load (force) changes (acceleration)). The pressure
detection unit 140 notifies the control unit 110 of the magnitude of the
voltage (voltage value, hereinafter referred to simply as data). The
control unit 110 acquires the data by the pressure detection unit 140
notifying the control unit 110 of the data, or by the control unit 110
detecting data relating to the piezoelectric element in the pressure
detection unit 140. In other words, the control unit 110 acquires data
based on the pressure load on the touch face 120A of the touch sensor
120. That is, the control unit 110 acquires data based on pressure from
the pressure detection unit 140. Note that, when the tactile sensation
providing unit 130 and the pressure detection unit 140 are, for example,
both configured using a piezoelectric element, the tactile sensation
providing unit 130 and the pressure detection unit 140 can be configured
integrally using a shared piezoelectric element. The reason is that a
piezoelectric element has the property of generating an electric charge
when pressure is applied and of deforming upon application of an electric
charge.

[0032] The pressure detection unit 140 can be used for the purpose of
preventing an erroneous operation. For example, when data based on
pressure acquired from the pressure detection unit 140 satisfies a
predetermined standard, the control unit 110 processes the contact of the
user's finger detected by the touch sensor 120 as an operation, yet when
data based on pressure does not satisfy the predetermined standard, the
control unit 110 does not process the contact of the user's finger
detected by the touch sensor 120 to be an operation. In this way, the
control unit 110 can prevent erroneous operation due to contact not
intended by the user.

[0033] The display unit 150 is configured using, for example, a liquid
crystal display (LCD), an organic EL display, or the like. The display
unit 150 displays a map, various types of information, and the like. On
the front face of the display unit 150, the touch sensor 120 is provided
for detecting input to the touch face 120A by the user's finger or the
like.

[0034] The memory unit 160 stores map data. The map data includes map
information, characteristic information on each location on the map, and
the like. Characteristic information is, for example, elevation, road
width, road pavement conditions, or the like and is associated with each
location on the map.

[0035] The memory unit 160 stores information such as a tactile sensation
pattern provided by the tactile sensation providing unit 130 and also
functions as a work memory or the like. The tactile sensation pattern
referred to here is specified by factors such as the form of vibration
(frequency, phase, vibration interval, number of vibrations, and the
like) and the intensity of vibration (amplitude and the like).

[0036] The position information acquisition unit 170 acquires the current
position of the tactile sensation providing device 100 (position
information) and is, for example, configured using a Global Positioning
System (GPS) or the like. The position information acquisition unit 170
is also provided with an orientation sensor and can acquire the direction
in which a mobile terminal or the like into which the tactile sensation
providing device 100 is incorporated is facing (orientation information).
The position information acquisition unit 170 provides the acquired
position information and orientation information to the control unit 110.

[0037] With reference to the flowchart in FIG. 2, the following describes
the steps by which, when the touch sensor 120 detects a slide operation
by the user, the tactile sensation providing unit 130 provides a tactile
sensation that varies in accordance with the position of the user's
finger during the slide operation.

[0038] Upon detecting a slide operation, the touch sensor 120 outputs
position information on the user's finger during the slide operation to
the control unit 110 (step S101). The position information on the user's
finger is output continuously to the control unit 110 in response to
movement on the touch sensor 120 of the user's finger from the start to
the end of the slide operation. In accordance with the position of the
user's finger received continuously from the touch sensor 120 during the
slide operation, the control unit 110 reads information from the memory
unit 160 on the applied voltage to be applied to the tactile sensation
providing unit 130 (step S102). The control unit 110 applies the applied
voltage read from the memory unit 160 in step S102 to the tactile
sensation providing unit 130. The tactile sensation providing unit 130
provides the user's finger during the slide operation with a tactile
sensation in accordance with the position of the slide operation (step
S103). When, for example, the display unit 150 is displaying a map, the
tactile sensation providing unit 130 provides a tactile sensation in
accordance with elevation, road width, road pavement conditions, or the
like at the location corresponding to the position of the user's finger
on the map.

[0039] In this way, while the user is performing a slide operation, the
tactile sensation providing device 100 can provide a tactile sensation
that varies during the slide operation in accordance with the position on
the touch sensor 120 of the user's finger during the slide operation.

[0040] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3A through 3F, an example of using
the tactile sensation providing device 100 as part of a portable
navigation device is illustrated. In this example, the tactile sensation
providing unit 130 provides a tactile sensation that varies in accordance
with elevation information for the position of the user's finger on the
map displayed by the display unit 150.

[0041] FIG. 3A illustrates the start of a slide operation in which the
user of a navigation device slides a finger along the touch sensor 120.
For more concrete example, the display unit 150 displays a recommended
route that the control unit 110 found in accordance with the map and with
the point of departure and destination set by the user.

[0042] FIG. 3B illustrates the tactile sensation provided by the tactile
sensation providing unit 130 during the slide operation. For more
concrete example, in the graph in FIG. 3B, the horizontal axis represents
the distance the user moves his finger with the slide operation, and the
vertical axis represents the tactile sensation that the user receives
during the slide operation in correspondence with the elevation of the
location on the map.

[0043] The vertical axis in FIG. 3B also corresponds to the elevation of
the location on the map during the slide operation by the user. In other
words, the tactile sensation providing unit 130 provides a tactile
sensation that the user perceives as "high elevation", such as a strong
vibration, when the elevation of the location on the map corresponding to
the position of the user's finger is high and provides a tactile
sensation that the user perceives as "low elevation", such as a weak
vibration, when the elevation of the location on the map corresponding to
the position of the user's finger is low.

[0044] That is, FIG. 3B illustrates the tactile sensation that the user
receives in accordance with elevation information during the slide
operation illustrated in FIG. 3A. The graph in FIG. 3B gently slopes
downwards. This indicates that during the slide operation, the user is
provided by the tactile sensation providing unit 130 with a tactile
sensation perceived as a gradual decrease in elevation. In other words,
this indicates that the route on the map traced by the user during the
slide operation is a gradual downhill route.

[0045] The tactile sensation provided by the tactile sensation providing
unit 130 may be associated with the absolute value of the elevation or
may be associated with an elevation relative to a standard defined as the
elevation of the location where the slide operation starts.

[0046] FIG. 3C is a continuation of FIG. 3A, illustrating the user
performing a slide operation further towards the right.

[0047] FIG. 3D illustrates the tactile sensation that the user receives in
accordance with elevation information during the slide operation
illustrated in FIG. 3C. The portion of the graph in FIG. 3D continued
from FIG. 3B slopes upwards. This indicates that during the slide
operation, the user is provided by the tactile sensation providing unit
130 with a tactile sensation perceived as increasing elevation. In other
words, this indicates that the route on the map traced by the user during
the slide operation is an uphill route.

[0049] FIG. 3F illustrates the tactile sensation that the user receives in
accordance with elevation information during the slide operation
illustrated in FIG. 3E. The portion of the graph in FIG. 3F continued
from FIG. 3D slopes downwards and then becomes level. This indicates that
during the slide operation, the user is provided by the tactile sensation
providing unit 130 first with a tactile sensation perceived as decreasing
elevation and then with a tactile sensation perceived as no change in
elevation. In other words, this indicates that after FIG. 3D, the route
on the map traced by the user during the slide operation goes downhill
and then becomes even.

[0050] In this way, by the tactile sensation providing unit 130 providing
the user with elevation information corresponding to a location on the
map as a tactile sensation corresponding to elevation, the user can gain
an intuitive feel for the elevation of the location on the map displayed
by the display unit 150.

[0051] With reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4, the following describes
the steps by which, when a slide operation by the user is detected, the
user is provided with a tactile sensation that varies in accordance with
the position of the user's finger on the map during the slide operation.

[0052] The control unit 110 reads the map from the memory unit 160 (step
S201). The control unit 110 displays the read map on the display unit 150
(step S202). Upon detecting a slide operation, the touch sensor 120
outputs position information on the user's finger during the slide
operation to the control unit 110 (step S203). The position information
on the user's finger is output continuously to the control unit 110 in
response to movement on the touch sensor 120 of the user's finger from
the start to the end of the slide operation. In accordance with the
elevation information for the location on the map corresponding to the
position of the user's finger received continuously from the touch sensor
120 during the slide operation, the control unit 110 reads information
from the memory unit 160 on the applied voltage to be applied to the
tactile sensation providing unit 130 (step S204). The control unit 110
applies the applied voltage read from the memory unit 160 in step S204 to
the tactile sensation providing unit 130. The tactile sensation providing
unit 130 provides the user's finger during the slide operation with a
tactile sensation in accordance with the elevation information for the
location on the map corresponding to the position of the slide operation
(step S205).

[0053] With reference to FIGS. 5A-5e and FIG. 6, the following describes
searching again for another route when the user of a navigation device is
notified, by the tactile sensation providing unit 130, of a steep uphill
portion when executing a slide operation with respect to a recommended
route.

[0054] FIG. 5A illustrates operations of a slide operation in which the
user of a navigation device slides a finger along a recommended route on
the touch sensor 120. In FIG. 5A, the user performs a slide operation on
the touch sensor 120 from the left to the right.

[0055] FIG. 5B illustrates the tactile sensation that the user receives
during the slide operation to slide over the recommended route
illustrated in FIG. 5A. The graph in FIG. 5B briefly remains flat and
then slopes upwards. This indicates that in the latter half of the slide
operation, the user is provided by the tactile sensation providing unit
130 with a tactile sensation perceived as increasing elevation. In other
words, this indicates that the recommended route on the map traced by the
user during the latter half of the slide operation is uphill.

[0056] FIG. 5C illustrates an operation to search again for another route
when the user is provided by the tactile sensation providing unit 130
with a tactile sensation indicating that the recommended route includes
an uphill portion, the other route having only an elevation difference
smaller than the elevation difference in a predetermined region of the
recommended route in which the user's finger is placed (the derivative of
the height in the region in which the user's finger is placed). While a
variety of operations suitable as the operation that triggers searching
again for another route (hereinafter referred to as "operation to search
again") are possible, FIG. 5C shows an example of dragging a section of
the recommended route and dropping the section on a location separate
from the recommended route. In other words, when the user performs an
operation to search again in a predetermined region of a recommended
route while executing a slide operation on the recommended route, the
control unit 110 searches for another route having only an elevation
difference smaller than the elevation difference in the predetermined
region.

[0057] FIG. 5D illustrates the display of the display unit 150 when the
operation illustrated in FIG. 5C is executed. In this way, when the touch
sensor 120 detects an operation that begins to drag a section of the
recommended route and drops the section on a location separate from the
recommended route, the control unit 110 can consider the operation as a
trigger to search for a route again.

[0058] Other than the operation to search again illustrated in FIGS. 5C
and 5D, when the touch sensor 120 detects, for example, an operation in
which the user moves his finger slightly to the left and right on the
recommended route, or an operation to slide over the recommended route
backwards, the control unit 110 may consider such an operation as a
trigger to search for a route again.

[0059] FIG. 5E illustrates how the control unit 110, triggered by the
touch sensor 120 detecting the operation to search again illustrated in
FIG. 5D, automatically searches again and displays another route found by
searching again on the display unit 150.

[0060] With reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6, the following describes
the steps by which the user, with respect to a slide operation on the
recommended route, is provided with a tactile sensation by the tactile
sensation providing unit 130 indicating an uphill portion, and the
control unit 110 automatically searches again for another route with only
a smaller elevation difference than the recommended route.

[0061] The control unit 110 reads the map from the memory unit 160 (step
S301). The control unit 110 displays the read map on the display unit 150
(step S302). The control unit 110 then searches for a recommended route
based on the point of departure and destination input by the user and
displays the recommended route on the display unit 150 (step S303). Upon
detecting a slide operation on the recommended route, the touch sensor
120 outputs position information on the user's finger during the slide
operation to the control unit 110 (step S304). The position information
on the user's finger is output continuously to the control unit 110 in
response to movement on the touch sensor 120 of the user's finger from
the start to the end of the slide operation. In accordance with the
elevation information on the recommended route corresponding to the
position of the user's finger received continuously from the touch sensor
120 during the slide operation, the control unit 110 reads information
from the memory unit 160 on the applied voltage to be applied to the
tactile sensation providing unit 130 (step S305). The control unit 110
applies the applied voltage read from the memory unit 160 in step S305 to
the tactile sensation providing unit 130. The tactile sensation providing
unit 130 provides the user's finger during the slide operation with a
tactile sensation in accordance with the elevation information for the
location on the map corresponding to the position of the slide operation
(step S306). Upon detecting an operation to search again in a
predetermined region on the recommended route, the touch sensor 120
notifies the control unit 110 of the operation (step S307). The control
unit 110 automatically searches again for another route having only an
elevation difference smaller than the elevation difference in the
predetermined region and causes the display unit 150 to display the other
route found by searching again (step S308).

[0062] In this way, when the recommended route includes an uphill portion,
the tactile sensation providing device 100 can provide the user with an
intuitive feel for the uphill portion via the tactile sensation provided
by the tactile sensation providing unit 130. When the user determines the
uphill portion to be steep and performs the operation to search again,
the control unit 110 can, in response to the operation to search again,
automatically search again for another route having only an elevation
difference smaller than the elevation difference in the predetermined
region.

[0063] Although the present invention has been described by way of
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be
noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. Therefore, such changes and modifications are to be
understood as included within the scope of the present invention. For
example, the functions and the like included in the members, units,
steps, and the like may be reordered in any logically consistent way.
Furthermore, units, steps, and the like may be combined into one or
divided.

[0064] The display unit 150 and the touch sensor 120 described in the
above embodiments may be configured as an integrated device by, for
example, providing a common substrate with the functions of both the
display unit 150 and the touch sensor 120. An example of such a device
integrating the functions of both the display unit 150 and the touch
sensor 120 is a liquid crystal panel having a matrix of pixel electrodes,
with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, such as
photodiodes, regularly mixed therein. This device is contacted by a pen
for touch input at a desired position on the panel display, and while
displaying images with the liquid crystal panel structure, the device can
detect the contact position by light from a backlight for liquid crystal
display being reflected by the tip of the pen and received by surrounding
photoelectric conversion elements.